# 1986–87 Watford F.C. season

The 1986–87 season was Watford's 106th season in existence, and their fifth season in the First Division, following promotion in the 1981–82 season, in which they finished 9th. Along with the First Division, they competed in the FA Cup and Football League Cup, being eliminated in the semi-final and third round respectively.

## Competitions
### First Division
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 7 | Luton Town | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 47 | 45 | +2 | 66 | |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 64 | 51 | +13 | 65 | |
| 9 | Watford | 42 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 67 | 54 | +13 | 63 | |
| 10 | Coventry City | 42 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 50 | 45 | +5 | 63 | Disqualified from the European Cup Winners' Cup |
| 11 | Manchester United | 42 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 52 | 45 | +7 | 56 | |
* ↑ Coventry City would have qualified as FA Cup winners.

#### Matches

First Division match results :
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 23 August 1986 | Oxford United | H | 3–0 | Barnes, Bardsley, Blissett | 17,720 |
| 26 August 1986 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 2–3 | Talbot, Barnes | 14,021 |
| 30 August 1986 | Nottingham Forest | A | 1–1 | Blissett | 14,723 |
| 6 September 1986 | Wimbledon | H | 0–1 | | 14,822 |
| 13 September 1986 | Norwich City | A | 3–1 | Richardson, Sterling, Blissett | 15,487 |
| 16 September 1986 | Manchester United | H | 1–0 | Roberts | 21,650 |
| 20 September 1986 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 0–1 | | 14,329 |
| 27 September 1986 | Coventry City | A | 0–1 | | 11,058 |
| 4 October 1986 | West Ham United | H | 2–2 | Callaghan, Blissett | 17,120 |
| 11 October 1986 | Arsenal | A | 1–3 | Falco | 24,076 |
| 18 October 1986 | Aston Villa | H | 4–2 | Falco (3), Jackett | 16,414 |
| 25 October 1986 | Everton | A | 2–3 | Jackett (pen.), Mountfield (o.g.) | 28,577 |
| 1 November 1986 | Chelsea | A | 0–0 | | 13,334 |
| 8 November 1986 | Charlton Athletic | H | 4–1 | Falco (2), Bardsley, Blissett | 14,466 |
| 15 November 1986 | Newcastle United | A | 2–2 | Jackett (pen.), Blissett | 23,645 |
| 22 November 1986 | Leicester City | H | 5–1 | Rostron, Barnes, Callaghan, Jackett (pen.), Falco | 13,605 |
| 29 November 1986 | Southampton | A | 1–3 | Terry | 14,537 |
| 6 December 1986 | Liverpool | H | 2–0 | McClelland, Barnes | 23,954 |
| 13 December 1986 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–2 | Falco | 23,137 |
| 19 December 1986 | Norwich City | H | 1–1 | Barnes | 12,900 |
| 26 December 1986 | Luton Town | A | 2–0 | Porter, Richardson | 11,140 |
| 27 December 1986 | Newcastle United | H | 1–0 | Barnes | 18,011 |
| 1 January 1987 | Manchester City | H | 1–1 | Barnes | 15,514 |
| 3 January 1987 | Wimbledon | A | 1–2 | Porter | 8,063 |
| 24 January 1987 | Oxford United | A | 3–1 | Callaghan, Barnes, Falco | 9,710 |
| 7 February 1987 | Nottingham Forest | H | 1–1 | Barnes | 15,173 |
| 14 February 1987 | Manchester United | A | 1–3 | Jackett | 35,763 |
| 28 February 1987 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 1–0 | Blissett | 20,530 |
| 8 March 1987 | Everton | H | 2–1 | Blissett, Falco | 14,014 |
| 21 March 1987 | Arsenal | H | 2–0 | Porter, Blissett | 18,172 |
| 25 March 1987 | Aston Villa | A | 1–1 | Falco | 12,575 |
| 28 March 1987 | West Ham United | A | 0–1 | | 16,485 |
| 4 April 1987 | Charlton Athletic | A | 3–4 | Falco, Sims (pen.), Blissett | 4,958 |
| 6 April 1987 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 0–3 | | 13,839 |
| 14 April 1987 | Chelsea | H | 3–1 | Bardsley, Porter, Bissett | 14,108 |
| 18 April 1987 | Manchester City | A | 2–1 | Sterling, Bardsley | 18,541 |
| 21 April 1987 | Luton Town | H | 2–0 | Sterling, Barnes | 14,650 |
| 25 April 1987 | Leicester City | A | 2–1 | Sterling, Bardsley | 9,448 |
| 30 April 1987 | Coventry City | H | 2–3 | Falco (2) | 11,590 |
| 2 May 1987 | Southampton | H | 1–1 | Terry | 13,067 |
| 4 May 1987 | Liverpool | A | 0–1 | | 40,150 |
| 9 May 1987 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 1–0 | Jackett (pen.) | 20,024 |

### FA Cup

FA Cup match results :
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| Third round | 10 January 1987 | Maidstone United | H | 3–1 | Falco (2), Allen | 15,952 |
| Fourth round | 1 February 1987 | Chelsea | H | 1–0 | Blissett | 18,832 |
| Fifth round | 21 February 1987 | Walsall | A | 1–1 | Bardsley | 15,621 |
| Fifth round replay | 24 February 1987 | Walsall | H | 4–4 (a.e.t.) | Jackett (pen.), Blissett, Barnes (2) | 20,350 |
| Fifth round, second replay | 2 March 1987 | Walsall | A | 1–0 | Dornan (o.g.) | 15,897 |
| Sixth round | 14 March 1987 | Arsenal | A | 3–1 | Blissett (2), Barnes | 43,276 |
| Semi-final | 11 April 1987 | Tottenham Hotspur | N | 1–4 | Allen | 46,161 |

### League Cup

League Cup match results :
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| Second round, first leg | 23 September 1986 | Rochdale | H | 1–1 | Roston | 9,670 |
| Second round, second leg | 7 October 1986 | Rochdale | A | 2–1 | Barnes, Jackett | 5,449 |
| Third round | 29 October 1986 | West Ham United | H | 2–3 | Jackett (pen.), Bardsley | 17,523 |

### Full Members' Cup

Full Members' Cup match results :
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| Third round | 26 November 1986 | Manchester City | A | 0–1 | | 6,393 |